Improvement in rufflers for sewing-machines



G. E. DOLTON.

y Ruffl'er. for Sewing-Machines.

Patented Oct. 1.,*1872.

Wimmer;

FFIOE.

ATENT GEORGE E. DOLTON, OF MONEE, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN RUFFLERS FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 131,@57, datedOctober 1, 1872.

' rufliing or gathering of one piece of goods,

and the sewing of the same onto the edge of another piece by one operation; or the ruffiin g or gathering oi' any portion of a single piece of cloth, as may be required; and it consists of a guide-arm projecting from and extending parallel with the lower plate of the attachment, and in front of the presser-foot (the guide-arm and rufler being arranged with relation to each otherin reverse of the position usually assumed) said arm being provided with a guide adjustable upon it, for the purpose of guiding and regulating the width of cloth to be ruffled; also in stationary guides situated between the upper and lower plates, arranged to guide the cloth required to be edge-stitched to the needle.

General Description.

Y In the drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my attachment as secured to the presser-foot of a sewing-machine, the horizontal and perpendicular lines w x illustrating its position in relation to the cloth-plate of the machine; Fig. 2, a front elevation ofthe same; Fig. 3, a rear elevation; Fig. 4, a plan of the attachment inverted; Fig. 5, a vertical section in plane of line y y, Fig. 3, to show the stationary guides; and Fig. 6, a diagram of the attachment inverted, showing said guides formed from the plate. 1

The upper and lower plates 4 l may be formed of a single piece of metal, the bend a forming a spring which allows the lower plate to be adjustedl higher or lower by means of the screw E to regulate the size of ruftle or gather required, as in my rufler heretofore patented.` The upper plate 4 is provided with the usual needle-hole b, and is attached in use to the presser-foot B of the machine, so that the body of the attachment extends transversely below and the guide-arm N in front of said presser-foot. I prefer to form the guide-arm N of a continuation of the lower plate 1,-de ressing it (as at e) below the latter to enable he cloth to be rufied to pass over said arm N, between and under the lower plate, on its way to the needle. A movable guide, G, is situated upon the arm N, by the adjustment of which, with relation to the needlehole b, the width of seam on the under cloth to be ruflied is regulated as required. The lower plate l recedes or is cut away from the needle-hole b to allow the needle to pass freely and the gathers to be properly formed. Guides D P are situatedthe former, D, upon the lowerplate and the latter, P, upon the under side of the upper plate 4in or just beyond the line of the needle-hole b, to which latter they guide the edge of the upper cloth to be edge-stitched, which is passed in between the upper and lower plates 4 1. These guides may be formed from the plate itself by cutting l and bending into the desired shape, as shown in Fig. 6, or made separately and afterward secured in place, as in Figs. 1 and 4; or they may consist of pins or studs .fastened to the lower plate 1, and extending upward through `holes in the upper plate 4, as shown in Fig. 5.

In operation, to ruffle or gather one piece of cloth and stitch the same on to the edge of another piece simultaneously, pass the lower cloth to be rujled over the arIn N, between and under the lower plate 1. Fold the edge of the upper. cloth where it is required to be stitched'on, and pass the folded edge between the arms 1 4 back against the guides D P. Lower the presser-foot, adjust the guide` G of the guide-arm N, according to the width of seam required on the lower cloth, regulate the height of the plate 1 by means ofthe screw E and length of stitch to obtain the size and fullness of rufde desired, and set the machine in motion. To ruffle or gather a piece of cloth alone pass it over the guide-arm N and under the lower plate l, regulate the width of seam and fullness of ruffle, as above described, tightening the tension to fullness required;

'or to ruffle in the body of the goods pass it under the whole of the rufler to the place required to be ruffled or gathered.

In my device it will be noticed that the guide-arm N projects from the end of the plate 1 back toward and parallel with the body of the ruler, while in devices heretofore known an arm projects from the body toward the end; also, that my rufer is placed on the presserfoot toward, the outer end of the machine, While in other styles the body is situated back and under the arm of the machine.

Y By my arrangement the attachment is much more easily and conveniently operated.

The guide-arm N is of importance in lifting and feeding the cloth to be ruffied evenly to the needle, which, owing to its position in front of the presser-foot, it does automatically and effectually, obviating the necessity of the guiding of the lower cloth between the fingers of the operator, and allowing the latter to devote proper attention to the upper cloth to be edgestitched.

arranged as specified, for the purposes set' forth.`

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE E. DOLTON.

Witnesses:

W. F. HUrcHINsoN, AUGUsT EHRHARDT. 

